CALL FOR APPLICATIONS FOR BUSINESS SERVICE PROVIDER FOR CACAO REGENERATIVE FARMING SYSTEM (CRFS)
BACKGROUND
MEDA is an international economic development organization whose mission is to create business solutions to poverty. Founded in 1953 by a group of business professionals, MEDA partners with the poor to start or grow small and medium-sized businesses in developing regions around the world.
In support to the sustainability and inclusive farming business performance for the cacao SHFs and cacao-based enterprises, RIISA will engage a qualified BSP to provide technical services and production inputs to i) promote cacao regenerative farming system (CRFS among new (not in the existing list of RIISA cacao farmers) 750 farmers in Davao region, Bukidnon province, and North Cotabato; and ii) continue for another year the technical mentoring and monitoring of the existing six (6) CRFS trial farms (in Davao City; San Isidro, Davao del Norte; Mawab, Davao de Oro; Tarragona and Mati City in Davao Oriental) initially established by the RIISA Project through the Davao Region Cacao Industry Development Council (DRCIDC) and Davao City Cacao Industry Development (DCCIDC).
This call for application is open to a BSP that can meet with the deliverables within 13-month period (March 1, 2026, to April 30, 2027)
SCOPE OF WORK
MEDA seeks an experienced business service provider (BSP) cum cacao market player to meet the following deliverables:
- Mobilize and register 1,000 newly identified cacao farmers in Davao region, Bukidnon province, and North Cotabato.
- Digitize the database of 150 sample cacao farmers using GIS for real-time progress monitoring.
- Provide and deploy technical assistance and production inputs to at least 750 cacao farmers to adopt the CRFS 10 protocols.
- Establish village-level laboratory and engage Canadian company/ies for bio-solutions’ dealership.
- Provide four (4) quarterly mentoring and monitoring support to the existing six (6) CRFS trial farm-cooperators.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Deliverables
- Inception report that details the methodologies and strategies in meeting the deliverables.
- Activity report on the digitization of the 150 sample cacao farmers using GIS, and the CRFS farmer-clients registration. The report shall include the data collected and the process and platform on how MEDA-RIISA can access the database of the sample farmers for real-time progress monitoring.
- List of the 1,000 cacao farmers using RIISA's Client Registration Form
- Three Quarterly Business Development Services Reports on the following:
- progress of 750 farmers and the existing six (6) CRFS trial farm-cooperators after receiving the required CRFS technical assistance and production inputs.
- progress of a) the establishment of a village-level laboratory to support the newly engaged cacao farmers, and b)the engagement with a Canadian company for bio-solutions’ dealership.
- The last quarter report will serve as the Final report
Qualifications & Selection Criteria
A. Generic and Mandatory:
- Legally registered in the Philippines and been providing business services to cooperatives or SMEs for at least three years.
- Familiar with the cacao industry in Davao Region, North Cotabato, and Bukidnon in Mindanao.
- Services are supporting its corporate commercial interests for its cacao business. Their services are aligned with the priority of cooperatives and SMEs in Davao region, North Cotabato, and Bukidnon that is to increase cacao yield and income of farmers.
- Local and financially stable organization/company. Need to provide 2-3 years audited FS.
- Can deploy experts/services immediately and be able to finish the deliverables within 13 months from submitting the inception report.
B. Specific Expertise:
-
- Demonstrated evidence of successfully providing extension and farm management services to the community of cacao farmers focusing on the following: composting for beneficial microbes; pruning; mulching; application and monitoring of the effects of biocontrol agents (mycorrhiza, trichoderma, trichogramma, beauveria bassiana); application and monitoring of the effects of biofertilizers; integrated pest management, farm-level production and the proper application of fish amino acids, calcium acetate or calcium phosphate.
- Demonstrated expertise and experience in working with government agencies and Local Government Units, cooperatives, SMEs, councils, and development-oriented organizations.
- Preference is given to BSP that can quickly mobilize the support of target market systems actors in meeting the deliverables.
Funding
- Funding will be discussed once an applicant will be identified successful in the initial stage of assessment and selection.
Application Procedure
Interested BSP to send application to MEDA via email at RIISA_Submissions@meda.org and cc: rvalones@meda.org, jaxalan@meda.org or through the BambooHR platform with the PROPOSAL as attachment, by 5:00pm on January 30, 2026. Please indicate “BSP CRFS and BioSolutions MS-Support to Cacao Farmers”.
A. Contact Information
1. Organization’s Legal Name
2. Mailing Address
3. Main Contact Person and Title
4. Telephone
5. Email Address
6. Website, if available (Facebook, twitter)
7. SEC/CDA/DTI Registration Number
B. Proposal Outline
1. Introduction (maximum half page): provide understanding of the ToR and how your organization or company can respond to the ToR’s requirements. Proponent to add a brief explanation on their motivation to partner with MEDA.
2. Capability Statement (maximum of one page):
- Briefly describe your organization’s business and services, in relation to the expertise and capacities required by this ToR, in the last three years with specific information on the beneficiaries, contracting company/organization, and the results of your engagements.
- Briefly describe the financial position of the organization/company.
- Please include the contact details (contact person, phone, and email) of at least three (3) organizations/companies/cooperatives who can speak to the capability and credibility of your organization.
- Describe the qualifications of the personnel who will possibly be involved in the engagement.
3. Proposed Methodology (maximum of one page).
- Describe how the proponent will provide the business development services required and achieve the desired deliverables that complement its cacao business.
- Discuss the strategy to embed gendered-environment, social & governance (G-ESG) considerations in the implementation processes and reporting to ensure the meaningful participation and benefits of women, youth and Indigenous peoples, and to promote good governance in promoting CRFS and bio-solutions.
4. Proposed Work Plan (maximum of one page). Outline the activities, timeline, expected outputs, resources, and the expertise needed.
5. Estimated Cost of the Engagement (in matrix format): Itemized cost and unit, and total cost.
6. Annex:
- Copy of DTI/SEC/CDA Certificate of Registration
- Copy of CV of BSP staff who will work on this engagement.
- Copy of the work sample/s of BSP or the assigned staff.
MEDA welcomes and encourages applications from all genders, backgrounds, religions, cultures, nationalities and abilities. Accommodation is available on request for candidates with disabilities taking part in the selection process.
